Gaming Machine For Multiple Participants And Control Method Thereof

ABSTRACT

In a gaming machine and its control method, a player playing at each client terminal can participate in arbitrary game among a plurality of games, and a betting for at least one game among a plurality of games always becomes possible, so that it becomes possible for a player to participate in a game without waiting for a long time. In addition, when there is a game which has a low popularity among players such as one in which no bet has been made for a prescribed number of games consecutively, it is changed to another game, so that it is possible to make more players entertained.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/881,484 filed on Jan. 22, 2007, and which isincorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a gaming machine for playing a game byusing gaming media such as coins, bills, etc., and a control method of agaming machine.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, a gaming machine for executing a game which has aplurality of game execution devices and in which a plurality of playersmake bets of credits from client terminals has been known. InUS2005/0059474A1, US2005/0282618A1, and US2005/0218590A1, a gamingmachine in which a plurality of client terminals, a central controllerand a common display unit are connected has been disclosed.

In such a conventional gaming machine, there are cases where the playerscannot participate in a middle of the game. Also, there are cases wherean unpopular game with few participants is continued to be executed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The first aspect of the present invention is a gaming machinecomprising: a plurality of game execution devices configured to executegames; a game controller operable to control games to be executed by thegame execution devices, and change games to be executed by the gameexecution devices according to an external signal; a relay controllerconnected with the game controller through a network, operable totransmit/receive information regarding games to/from the gamecontroller, and set a betting accepting period of each game such that,when a betting accepting period of one game among games to be executedby the game execution devices is ended, it is in a betting acceptingperiod of at least one other game different from the one game; and aplurality of client terminals connected with the relay controller, andconfigured to enable participation of a player in a selected game amonggames to be executed by the game execution devices and enable acceptanceof bets for a game in which the player participates during the bettingaccepting period set by the relay controller, each client terminalhaving a display device configured to notify a game in which the playeris participating.

The second aspect of the present invention is a gaming machinecomprising: a plurality of game execution devices configured to executegames; a game controller operable to control games to be executed by thegame execution devices, and change games to be executed by the gameexecution devices according to an external signal; a relay controllerconnected with the game controller through a network, operable totransmit/receive information regarding games to/from the gamecontroller, and set a betting accepting period of each game such that,when a betting accepting period of one game among games to be executedby the game execution devices is ended, a betting accepting period ofany other game different from the one game is started; and a pluralityof client terminals connected with the relay controller, and configuredto enable participation of a player in a selected game among games to beexecuted by the game execution devices and enable acceptance of bets fora game in which the player participates during the betting acceptingperiod set by the relay controller, each client terminal having adisplay device configured to notify a game in which the player isparticipating.

The third aspect of the present invention is a gaming machinecomprising: a plurality of game execution devices configured to executegames; a game controller operable to control games to be executed by thegame execution devices, and, when there is a game in which no bet hasbeen made for a prescribed number of games, change the game in which nobet has been made for a prescribed number of games to another game; arelay controller connected with the game controller through a network,operable to transmit/receive information regarding games to/from thegame controller, and set a betting accepting period of each game suchthat, when a betting accepting period of one game among games to beexecuted by the game execution devices is ended, it is in a bettingaccepting period of at least one other game different from the one game;and a plurality of client terminals connected with the relay controller,for enabling participation of a player in a selected game among games tobe executed by the game execution devices and enabling acceptance ofbets for a game in which the player participates during the bettingaccepting period set by the relay controller, each client terminalhaving a display device configured to notify a game in which the playeris participating.

The fourth aspect of the present invention is a method for controlling agaming machine, the method comprising the steps of: executingrespectively different games by a plurality of game execution devicesunder a control of a game controller; changing games to be executed bythe game execution devices to other games, by using the game controllerupon receiving an external signal; setting a betting accepting period ofeach game such that, when a betting accepting period of one game amonggames to be executed by the game execution devices is ended, it is in abetting accepting period of at least one other game different from theone game, by using a relay controller connected with the game controllerthrough a network; enabling participation of a player in any one gameamong games to be executed by the game execution devices as the playerbets credits during a betting accepting period that is set, by using aclient terminal connected with the relay controller; and notifying agame in which the player is participating at the client terminal, byusing a display device.

The fifth aspect of the present invention is a method for controlling agaming machine, the method comprising the steps of: executingrespectively different games by a plurality of game execution devicesunder a control of a game controller; changing games to be executed bythe game execution devices to other games, by using the game controllerupon receiving an external signal; setting a betting accepting period ofeach game such that, when a betting accepting period of one game amonggames to be executed by the game execution devices is ended, a bettingaccepting period of any other game different from the one game isstarted, by using a relay controller connected with the game controllerthrough a network; enabling participation of a player in any one gameamong games to be executed by the game execution devices as the playerbets credits during the betting accepting period that is set, by using aclient terminal connected with the relay controller; and notifying agame in which the player is participating at the client terminal, byusing a display device.

The sixth aspect of the present invention is a method for controlling agaming machine, the method comprising the steps of: executingrespectively different games by a plurality of game execution devicesunder a control of a game controller; when there is a game in which nobet has been made for a prescribed number of games, changing the game inwhich no bet has been made for a prescribed number of games to anothergame, by using the game controller; setting abetting accepting period ofeach game such that, when a betting accepting period of one game amonggames to be executed by the game execution devices is ended, it is in abetting accepting period of at least one other game different from theone game, by using a relay controller connected with the game controllerthrough a network; enabling participation of a player in any one gameamong games to be executed by the game execution devices as the playerbets credits during a betting accepting period that is set, by using aclient terminal connected with the relay controller; and notifying agame in which the player is participating at the client terminal, byusing a display device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart schematically showing a processing procedure of acontrol method of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart schematically showing a game change processingprocedure of a control method of a gaming machine according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outward appearance of a gaming machineaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outward appearance of a client terminalof a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a network configuration of a gaming machineaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outward appearance of a roulette deviceto be executed by a gaming machine according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a roulettecontroller of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a roulette deviceof a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first gamecontroller of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second gamecontroller of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a relay controllerof a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a client terminalof a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a first partial diagram of a sequence chart showing aprocessing procedure of a gaming machine according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 14 is a second partial diagram of a sequence chart showing aprocessing procedure of a gaming machine according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing a game change processing determinationprocedure to be executed by a gaming machine according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing a game change processing procedure to beexecuted by a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a betting accepting period tobe set in a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a game selectionscreen displayed at a client terminal of a gaming machine according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a bettingacceptance screen for a slot game A displayed at a client terminal of agaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a bettingacceptance screen for a horse racing game displayed at a client terminalof a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a bettingacceptance screen for a roulette game displayed at a client terminal ofa gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an exemplary display of a slot game Adisplayed at a first display of a gaming machine according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an exemplary display of a horse racing gamedisplayed at a second display of a gaming machine according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an exemplary display during a game changeof a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a flow chart schematically showing a control method of agaming machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically showing a game change processing of a gaming machineaccording to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing anoutward appearance of a gaming machine according to the presentinvention, and in the following, the outline of the present inventionwill be described with references to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

First, the game controllers 18, 19 and 20 that are provided in plurality(see FIG. 5) execute games set at that point (step S11). For example,the three game controllers 18, 19 and 20 execute a slot game, a horseracing game, and a roulette game, respectively.

Next, a relay controller 17 which is connected with the game controllers18, 19 and 20 through a network 16 sets respective betting acceptingperiods for games executed by the game controllers 18, 19 and 20 (stepS12). Namely, each game is operated to proceed such that a bettingaccepting period for a player to bet credits by entering coins or thelike and a game execution period for executing a game will be repeated,and the relay controller 17 sets the betting accepting periods of gamessuch that they are dispersed.

After that, a game selection operation by the player is accepted at eachclient terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i) (step S13). Then, at each clientterminal 14 (14 a to 14 i), the betting acceptance processing is carriedout according to the betting accepting period set by the relaycontroller 17 with respect to the selected game.

Then, at each client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i), after the credits arebet, the game is executed and whether a payout is generated as a resultof this game or not is judged (step S15). When the payout is generatedas a result, at each client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i), the payoutamount is calculated and the credits are paid (step S16). In this way,the games are executed by the game controllers 18, 19 and 20.

Next, with reference to a flow chart shown in FIG. 2, the processingprocedure of the game change processing at the first game controller 19and the second game controller 20 will be described. Here, an exemplarycase of the first game controller 19 will be described. The game changeprocessing is not carried out for the roulette controller.

First, the first game controller 19 accepts an input of an externalsignal regarding the game change (step S21).

Next, the first game controller 19 judges whether the game program is tobe changed or not according to the inputted external signal (step S22),and when the game program is to be changed, the game program currentlyexecuted by the first game controller 19 is changed to another gameprogram (step S23). Then, the first game controller 19 will executenewly programmed another game starting from a next time.

Here, the external signal to be inputted into the game controller can bea game change operation signal due to a manual operation by a manager,or a game change command signal to be inputted when there is no bet bythe player for a prescribed number of times (10 times, for example)consecutively at the first game controller 19, for example. By executingsuch a game change processing, a game that has a low popularity amongplayers can be changed to another game, and it is possible to execute agame such that more players can enjoy it.

Next, a detailed configuration of the gaming machine according to thepresent embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective viewshowing a configuration of a gaming machine according to the presentembodiment. As shown in the same figure, the gaming machine 10 has twomutually neighboring displays (data execution devices) including a firstdisplay 11 and a second display 12, a roulette device 13 for executingthe roulette game, a plurality (nine in the figure) of client terminals14 (14 a to 14 i) which as a whole are arranged in a fan shape thatencloses the displays 11 and 12 and the roulette device 13, and a hostserver 15 which carries out a control for executing various types ofgames at the displays 11 and 12 and the roulette device 13.

The host server 15 has the first game controller 19 (see FIG. 9) and thesecond game controller 20 (see FIG. 10) which are operable to executevarious types of games such as a slot game and a horse racing game atthe first display 11 and the second display 12, and the roulettecontroller 18 (see FIG. 7) which is operable to execute the roulettegame at the roulette device 13.

Then, at each client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i), the player can play byparticipating in any one among the first game executed at the firstdisplay 11, the second game executed at the second display 12, and theroulette game executed at the roulette game 13. The games respectivelyexecuted by the first game controller 19 and the second game controller20 can be changed by the external signal. Details will be describedbelow.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outward appearance of the client terminal14 (14 a to 14 i) according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 4, eachof the client terminals 14 (14 a to 14 i) is shown as a client terminal14. As shown in FIG. 14, the client terminal 14 has a display 21 fordisplaying various types of images, a game selection button 22 forselecting one game among three games, a bet button 23 for betting onecredit, a MAX bet button 24 for betting the maximum amount of credits, acredit amount display device 25 for displaying the current amount ofcredits, a bet amount display device 26 for displaying the amount thatis bet, and a payout button 27.

It also has a coin insertion slot 29 for inserting coins, a ticketprinter 28 for printing out data regarding a play such as the payoutamount, a bill insertion slot 30 for inserting bills, and three selectedgame indication lamps 31 (31 a to 31 c).

The selected game indication lamps 31 (31 a to 31 c) are lamps forindicating a game in which a player of this client terminal 14 iscurrently participating, such that an indication lamp 31 a is turned onin the case of participating in the first game displayed and executed atthe first display 11, an indication lamp 31 b is turned on in the caseof participating in the second game displayed and executed at the seconddisplay 12, and an indication lamp 31 c is turned on in the case ofparticipating in the roulette game, for example. The indication lamps 31(31 a to 31 c) are turned on with respectively different colors.

On a lower side of the client terminal 14, a payout opening 32 forpaying coins is provided, and in addition, on a lower side of thispayout opening 32, an undertray 33 for accumulating paid coins isprovided.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a network connection of the gaming machineaccording to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the host server15 is connected to the relay controller 17 through the network 16, andthe relay controller 17 is connected with the client terminals 14 (14 ato 14 i). The client terminals 14 (14 a to 14 i) and the host server 15are capable of transmitting/receiving data through the network 16.

The host server 15 has the first game controller 19, the second gamecontroller 20, and the roulette controller 18. In addition, the hostserver 15 is connected with the first display 11, the second display 12,and the roulette device 13.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an outward appearance of theroulette device 13. As shown in FIG. 6, the roulette device 13 has aframe body 41 fixed to a casing of the roulette device 13, and aroulette wheel 42 which is accommodated and supported to be rotatableinside the frame body 41. On an upper surface of the roulette wheel 42,a plurality (38 in total in the present embodiment) of number pockets 43in concave shape are formed. On an upper surface of the roulette wheel42 in an outward direction of the number pockets 43, number displayplates 45 for displaying numbers “0”, “00”, “1” to “36” incorrespondence to the respective number pockets 43 are formed.

Inside the frame body 41, a ball entering hole 50 is formed. The ballentering hole 50 is connected to a ball entering device 64 (see FIG. 8),and in conjunction with the activation of the ball entering device 64, aball 47 will be entered onto the roulette wheel 42 from the ballentering hole 50. The roulette device 13 as a whole has its upper sidecovered by a hemispherical transparent acrylic cover member 58 (see FIG.3).

On a lower side of the roulette wheel 42, a wheel driving motor 66 (seeFIG. 8) is provided, and in conjunction with the activation of the wheeldriving motor 66, the roulette wheel 42 will be rotated.

On a lower side of the roulette wheel 42, metal plates (not shown) areattached at prescribed intervals, and as a proximity sensor provided ina pocket position detection circuit 67 (see FIG. 8) detects this metalplate, a position of the number pocket 43 is detected.

The frame body 41 is gently inclined toward an inner side, and a guidewall 49 is formed on its middle section. The guide wall 49 is forrolling the entered ball 47 by guiding it against the centrifugal force.The entered ball 47 rolls down the slope of the frame body 41 toward theinner side as the rotational speed decreases and the centrifugal forcebecomes weaker, and reaches to the rotating roulette wheel 42. Then, theball that rolled onto the roulette wheel 42 further falls into one ofthe number pockets 43 by passing over the number display plates 45 on anouter side of the rotating roulette wheel 42. As a result, the numberwritten on the number display plate 45 corresponding to the numberpocket 43 into which the ball fell is judged by a ball sensor 65, and itwill become a winning number.

Next, a configuration of each game controller provided in the hostserver 15 will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing aninternal configuration of the roulette controller (game controller) 18provided inside the host server 15. As shown in FIG. 7, the roulettecontroller 18 is connected with a communication I/F 53 fortransmitting/receiving data to/from the client terminals 14 (14 a to 14i) through the network 16, and the roulette device (game executiondevice) 13 (see FIG. 8) at which the game will be executed under thecontrol of the roulette controller 18.

The roulette controller 18 has a CPU 52 for carrying out an overallcontrol of the roulette controller 18, a ROM 54 for storing a systemprogram, a RAM 55 for temporarily storing data, a timer 56, and akeyboard 57.

The CPU 52 carries out various processings according to input signalssupplied from each client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i), and data andprograms stored in the ROM 54 and the RAM 55, and transmits commandsignals to the relay controller 17 according to the processing results,so as to control each client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i) connected to therelay controller 17 by its initiative. Also, the CPU 52 transmitscontrol signals to the roulette device 13, to control the shooting ofthe ball 47 and the rotation of the roulette wheel 42.

The ROM 54 is formed by a semiconductor memory or the like, for example,and stores programs for realizing basic functions of the roulette device13, programs for carrying out the notification of the maintenancetiming, the setting and the management of the notification conditions tobe notified, etc., the payout rates with respect to the roulette game(the payout amount of credits with respect to the win per one coin),programs for controlling each client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i) by itsinitiative, etc.

The RAM 55 temporarily stores the credit betting information suppliedfrom each client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i), the winning number of theroulette device 13 judged by the pocket position detection circuit 67(see FIG. 8), the amount of JP accumulated until now, data regarding theresult of the processing executed by the CPU 52, etc.

The timer 56 for measuring time is connected to the CPU 52. The timeinformation of the timer 56 is transmitted to the CPU 52, and the CPU 52carries out the control of the rotation operation of the roulette wheel42 and the shooting of the ball 47 as will be described below accordingto the time information of the timer 56. The CPU 52 realizes effectsusing the electric decoration by controlling the light emission by LEDand the like with respect to the electric light display unit 51, anddisplays prescribed letters or the like on the electric light displayunit 15.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of theroulette device 13 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG.8, the roulette device 13 has a control unit 69, a ball entering device64, a ball sensor 65, a wheel driving motor 66, a pocket positiondetection circuit 67, and a ball collecting device 68.

The control unit 69 has a CPU 61, a ROM 62, and a RAM 63. The CPU 61controls the shooting of the ball 47 and the rotation of the roulettewheel 42 according to the control signals supplied from the roulettecontroller 18, and data and programs stored in the ROM 62 and the RAM63.

The ball entering device 64 is a device for entering the ball 47 ontothe roulette wheel 42 from the ball entering hole 50. The ball enteringdevice 64 shoots the ball 47 onto the roulette wheel 42 at the initialspeed set according to the control data stored in the ROM 62. The ballsensor 65 is operated to judge the number pocket 43 into which the ball47 fell. The wheel driving motor 66 is operated to rotate the roulettewheel 42, and its activation is stopped after the motor driving timethat is set in the control data has elapsed since the start of theactivation. The ball collecting device 68 is a device for collecting theball 47 on the roulette wheel 42 after the game is over.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the first gamecontroller 19. The first game controller 19 is for controlling the gameto be executed at the first display 11, and as shown in FIG. 9, it has aCPU 71 for carrying out the comprehensive control of the game, a ROM 72,a RAM 73, a hard disk 74 for storing plural types of game programs, akeyboard 75 for accepting the operation input of the manager, acommunication I/F 76 for carrying out communications through the network16, a random number generator 77 for generating various types of randomnumbers regarding the execution of the game, and a liquid crystaldriving circuit 78 for carrying out a display control for the firstdisplay 11.

In the hard disk 74, a plurality of game programs such as “slot game A”,“slot game B”, etc., are stored, and the game program determinedaccording to the command signal inputted from the keyboard 75 will bedownloaded into the RAM 73 and this game will be executed under thecontrol of the CPU 71. There can be cases where the selection of thegame program is changed according to the external signal inputtedthrough the communication I/F 76.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the second gamecontroller 20. The second game controller 20 is for controlling the gameto be executed at the second display 12, and as shown in FIG. 10, it hasa CPU 81 for carrying out the comprehensive control of the game, a ROM82, a RAM 83, a hard disk 84 for storing plural types of game programs,a keyboard 85 for accepting the operation input of the manager, acommunication I/F 86 for carrying out communications through the network16, a random number generator 87 for generating various types of randomnumbers regarding the execution of the game, and a liquid crystaldriving circuit 88 for carrying out a display control for the seconddisplay 12.

In the hard disk 84, a plurality of game programs such as “horse racinggame”, “poker game”, etc., are stored, and the game program determinedaccording to the command signal inputted from the keyboard 85 will bedownloaded into the RAM 83 and this game will be executed under thecontrol of the CPU 81. There can be cases where the selection of thegame program is changed according to the external signal inputtedthrough the communication I/F 86.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of therelay controller 17. As shown in FIG. 11, the relay controller 17 has aCPU 91 for carrying out the comprehensive control, a communication I/F92 for carrying out communications through the network 16, terminal I/Fs93 for carrying out communications with the client terminals 14 (14 a to14 i), a ROM 94, and a RAM 95. Then, the CPU 91 carries out a controlfor setting the betting accepting period for each game executed by theroulette controller 18, the first game controller 19 and the second gamecontroller 20. In the case where the game executed by the first display11 or the second display 12 is unpopular (no bet has been made for aprescribed number of games consecutively, etc.), it carries out aprocessing for outputting a command signal for changing this game toanother game, to the host server 15. Details will be described below.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of theclient terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i) according to the present embodiment.Note that 9 sets of the client terminals 14 (14 a to 14 i) havebasically the same configuration, so that it will be described as aclient terminal 14 in the following.

As shown in FIG. 12, the client terminal 14 has a CPU 101, a ROM 105 anda RAM 106. The ROM 105 is formed by a semiconductor memory or the like,for example, and stores programs for realizing basic functions of theclient terminal 14, and other various programs, data table, etc., thatare necessary for controlling the client terminal 14. Also, the RAM 106is a memory for temporarily storing various data calculated by the CPU101, the amount of credits currently owned by the player (accumulated atthe client terminal 14), the state of coin betting by the player, etc.

A game selection button 22 for enabling the player to select arbitrarygame, a bet button 23 for betting one credit, a MAX bet button 24 forbetting the maximum amount of credits, and a payout button 27 for payingthe credited coins are connected to the CPU 101. The display devicesincluding a credit amount display device 25 and a bet amount displaydevice 26 are connected to the CPU 101. A hopper 102 and a coin sensor103 are connected to the CPU 101.

The CPU 101 carries out a control for executing various correspondingoperations according to the operation signals outputted by the pressingof each button 22, 23, 24, 27 or the like. More specifically, variousprocessings are executed according to the input signals supplied fromthe each button 22, 23, 24, 27 upon receiving the input of the player'soperations, and data and programs stored in the ROM 105 and the RAM 106,and their results are transmitted to the host server 15 through therelay controller 17 and the network 16.

The coin sensor 103 detects coins inserted from the coin insertion slot29, counts the inserted coins, and transmits the counting result data tothe CPU 101. The CPU 101 increases the amount of credits owned by theplayer that is stored in the RAM 106 according to this counting resultdata.

The hopper 102 pays a prescribed number of coins from the coin payoutopening 32 (see FIG. 4) according to the command signal outputted fromthe CPU 101.

The selected game indication lamps 31 (31 a to 31 c), a liquid crystaldriving circuit 107, and a sound output circuit 109 are connected to theCPU 101.

The liquid crystal driving circuit 107 controls images to be displayedat a display 21. The liquid crystal driving circuit 107 has a programROM, an image ROM, an image control CPU, a work RAM, VDP (Video DisplayProcessor), and a video RAM.

The program ROM stores an image controlling program and variousselection tables regarding the display at the display 21. The image ROMstores dot data for forming an image to be displayed at the display 21,for example. The image control CPU makes the determination of an imageto be displayed at the display 21 from the dot data stored in advance inthe image ROM, according to the image control program stored in advancein the program ROM on a basis of parameters set by the CPU 101.

The work RAM is provided as a temporary memory device at a time ofexecuting the image control program at the image control CPU. The VDPforms an image according to the display content determined by the imagecontrol CPU and outputs it to the display 21. The video RAM is providedas a temporary memory device at a time of forming an image by the VDP.

Also, on the display 21, a touch panel 108 for outputting the inputsignal to the CPU 101 upon receiving the touching operation by theplayer is provided. The touch panel 108 will be used for the selectionoperation and the like in the participating game.

The sound output circuit 109 carries out a control for generatingvarious effect sounds, and is connected to a speaker 110.

Next, the operation of the gaming machine 10 according to the presentembodiment in the configuration as described above will be described. Inthe following, the case where the slot game A is executed at the firstdisplay 11, the horse racing game is executed at the second display 12,and the roulette game is executed at the roulette device 13 will bedescribed as an example.

FIG. 13 is a sequence chart showing a continuous flow of the processingsat the game controllers 18, 19 and 20, the processing at the relaycontroller 17, and the processings at the client terminals 14 (14 a to14 i).

When the operation of the gaming machine 10 according to the presentembodiment is started, the game controllers 18, 19 and 20 execute therespective games (step all). For example, they are controlled such thatthe roulette controller 18 starts the roulette game at the roulettedevice 13, the first game controller 19 starts the slot game A at thefirst display 11, and the second game controller 20 starts the horseracing game at the second display 12.

Next, the game controllers 18, 19 and 20 transmit the game executiondata of the respectively executed games to the relay controller 17 (stepa12). The game execution data contains data indicating the start of thegame, data required for playing the game once, data regarding thebetting acceptance for the game, etc.

The relay controller 17 carries out the processing for the time divisionof the betting periods to be set for the games, according to the gameexecution data transmitted from the game controllers 18, 19 and 20 (stepb11). In the games executed by the game controllers 18, 19 and 20, theone playing of the game comprises the betting accepting time and thegame execution time, and the processing of the step b11 the bettingaccepting periods for the three games are set to be dispersed such thatthe player who participates in the game at the client terminal 14 (14 ato 14 i) can make a bet on at least one game.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 17, the betting accepting periodst1, t2 and t3 for the games are set such that after the bettingaccepting period t1 for the first game executed by the first gamecontroller 19 is ended, the betting accepting period t2 for the secondgame executed by the second game controller 20 starts, and after thebetting accepting period t2 for the second game is ended, the bettingaccepting period t3 for the roulette game executed by the roulettecontroller 18 starts, and then after the betting accepting period t3 forthe roulette game is ended, the betting accepting period t1 for thefirst game starts again.

Consequently, the player who operates the client terminal 14 (14 a to 14i) always can make the betting operation for one game. The setting ofthe betting accepting periods is not limited to an example shown in FIG.17, and it suffices to set the betting accepting periods such that thebetting accepting periods of the games are dispersed so that the playcan make a bet on at least one game.

After that, the relay controller 17 transmits the betting possibleperiod data indicating the betting accepting periods of the games toeach client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i) (step b12).

Each client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i) receives the betting possibleperiod data. Then, each client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i) displays gameson which the betting is possible on the display 21 (see FIG. 4)according to the betting possible period data (step c11), and displaysthe game selection image for providing options by which the playerselects one game from the three games (step c12).

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 18, letters (or images) of the slotgame A (201) as the first game, the horse racing game 202 as the secondgame, and the roulette game 203 are displayed, and in addition, asurrounding of the slot game A (201) for which the betting by the playeris currently possible is displayed brighter, while surroundings of thehorse racing game 202 and the roulette game 2093 for which the bettingby the player is not accepted currently are displayed darker.

The player can select arbitrary game among the three games by operatingthe game selection button 22 shown in FIG. 4. Then, the selected gameindication lamp 31 (31 a to 31 c) corresponding to the selected gamewill be turned on (see FIG. 4).

After that, at the client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i), when the gameselection operation by the player is made, the betting accepting imagefor the selected game is displayed at the display 21, so as to acceptthe betting operation by the player (step c13).

FIG. 22 shows an exemplary display of the slot game A (first game)executed by the first game controller 19 and displayed at the firstdisplay 11. Also, FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a manner bywhich the betting accepting image for this slot game A is displayed atthe display 21 of the client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i).

As shown in FIG. 22, in the slot game A, a game for rearranging symbolsarranged in the total 15 display regions of three rows by five columnsinto other symbols is executed, and the payout of a prescribed amountwill be generated when symbols constituting a winning combination arerearranged on a payline that is set in advance.

Then, as shown in FIG. 19, the total 13 paylines L0 to L12 are set, andthe betting image 211 for accepting the betting of credits to thepaylines L0 to L12 is displayed at the display 21 of the client terminal14 (14 a to 14 i), so that the betting operation by the player becomespossible. The betting operation can be made by touching a betting targetportion within the betting image 211 and then pressing the bet button 23or the MAX bet button 24 shown in FIG. 4. Then, the payout will begenerated when symbols constituting the winning combination are realizedon the bet payline.

FIG. 23 shows an exemplary display of the horse racing game (secondgame) executed by the second game controller 20 and displayed at thesecond display 12. Also, FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing amanner by which the betting accepting image for this horse racing gameis displayed at the display 21 of the client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i).

As shown in FIG. 23, the horse racing game is a game for guessing whichhorses will finish first and second after six horses run around a track.Then, the payout of a prescribed amount will be generated when theguessed horses finish first and second.

Then, as shown in FIG. 20, the betting image 221 showing combinations ofnumbers from No. 1 to No. 6 is displayed at the display 21, so that thebetting operation by the player becomes possible. The betting operationcan be made by touching a betting target portion within the bettingimage 221 and then pressing the bet button 23 or the MAX bet button 24shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a manner by which the bettingaccepting image for the roulette game executed by the roulette device 13is displayed at the display 21 of the client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i).As shown in FIG. 21, total 38 of numbers “0”, “00” and “1” to “36” aredisplayed, and the player can make the betting operation by touchingthese numbers or various types of selection screens, and furthertouching the bet amount screens 234, 235, 236, 237.

As the selection screens, screens of “1st12” for betting on “1” to “12”,“2nd12” for betting on “13” to “24” and “3rd12” for betting on “25” to“36”, a red number selection screen 232 for betting on numbers in red, ablack number selection screen 233 for betting on numbers in black, etc.,are shown.

When the betting operation for the selected game is finished by theabove-described operation, the client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i)transmits the betting data to the relay controller 17 (step c14 of FIG.14). Then, the relay controller 17 receives the betting data transmittedfrom the client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i), and transmits this bettingdata to the corresponding game controller (step b14).

Each game controller 18, 19 or 20 receives the betting data transmittedfrom the relay controller 17 (step a13). Then, each game controller 18,19 or 20 carries out the payout rate determination processing accordingto the received betting data (step a14). In this rate determinationprocessing, the payout rate for the game result is determined accordingto the bets made at all the client terminals 14 (14 a to 14 i).

After that, each game controller 18, 19 or 20 transmits the rate data tothe relay controller 17 (step a15). The relay controller 17 transmitsthe received rate data to the client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i) (stepb15).

At the client terminal 14 (14 a to 14 i), the rate data is received(step c15), and the payout processing is carried out according to thereceived rate data (step c16). As a result, the player of each clientterminal 14 (14 a to 14 i) can obtain coins with respect to the bettingmade by himself in the game.

At the relay controller 17, the processing for determining change of thegame executed at each game controller 18, 19 or 20 is carried outaccording to the betting operations at the client terminals 14 (14 a to14 i) (step b16). At each game controller 18, 19 or 20, the processingfor changing the game to be executed is carried out according to theresult of the game change determination processing at the relaycontroller 17.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing a detailed procedure of the game changedetermination processing (step b16 of FIG. 14) to be executed at therelay controller 17. First, the CPU 91 (see FIG. 11) of the relaycontroller 17 counts the number of games for which no bet has been madeconsecutively, in each game, according to the betting data transmittedfrom the client terminals 14 (14 a to 14 i) (step S31).

For example, when no bet has been made for five times consecutively atall the client terminals 14 (14 a to 14 i) for the slot game A (firstgame) executed at the first game controller 19, this number of times“five” is set as the count value T and stored in the RAM 95. Then, whenthis count value T becomes equal to a prescribed value N (N=10, forexample) that is set in advance (step S32 YES), the count value T isreset (step S33), and the change command signal with respect to the gamecurrently executed by the first game controller 19 is outputted to thefirst game controller 19 (step S34). As will be described below, whenthis change command signal is inputted, the first game controllerchanges the game to be executed.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing a detailed processing procedure of thegame change processing (step a16 of FIG. 14) to be executed at the firstgame controller 19 and the second game controller 20. Here, theexemplary case where the game change command signal is inputted into thefirst game controller 19 will be described as an example.

First, the CPU 71 (see FIG. 9) of the first game controller 19 judgeswhether the game change operation signal is inputted from the keyboard75 or not (step S41). This game change operation signal is a signal forchanging the game by the manual operation of the manager of the gamingmachine 10, and the manager who has the right for the game change canchange the game to be executed at the first game controller 19appropriately by operating the keyboard 75. Then, when the game changeoperation signal is inputted, the processing proceeds to the step S43.

In addition, the CPU 71 judges whether the game change command signal isinputted from the relay controller 17 or not (step S42). Then, when thegame change command signal is inputted, the processing proceeds to thestep S43.

When the game change operation signal by the operation of the keyboard75 or the game change command signal from the relay controller 17 isinputted, the CPU 71 deletes the program of the game currently executed(step S43). More specifically, the program of the first game (slot gameA, for example) written in the RAM 73 is deleted.

After that, the CPU 71 downloads the program of another game (step S44).More specifically, the program of another game (slot game B, forexample) stored in the hard disk 74 is downloaded into the RAM 73. As aresult, the game to be executed at the first game controller 19 ischanged from the slot game A to the slot game B. Also, during a periodin which the game program is changed by the processing of the steps S43and S44, the image such as “Changing game. Please wait for awhile.” asshown in FIG. 24 is displayed at the display 21 of the client terminal14 (14 a to 14 i), so as to notify to the player of the client terminal14 (14 a to 14 i) that the rewriting of the game program is currentlycarried out. As a result, each player can learn that the first game tobe executed at the first display 11 is changed.

In this way, in the gaming machine according to the present embodiment,the respectively different games are executed at the first gamecontroller 19, the second game controller 20 and the roulette controller18, and in addition, it is possible to participate in the game by makinga bet in one game among the three games at each client terminal 14 (14 ato 14 i).

Also, when there is a game for which the number of bets made is small,such as a game for which no bet has been made for a prescribed number oftimes consecutively, this game can be changed to another game. Inaddition, the game can be changed by the input operation of the manager.

In the above, the embodiment of the gaming machine according to thepresent invention has been described, but it is only showing a concreteexample and it does not limit the present invention particularly, andthe concrete configuration of each means or the like can be modified indesign appropriately. Also, the effects described in the embodiment ofthe present invention are only listing the most preferable effects thatcan arise from the present invention, and the effects of the presentinvention are not limited to those described in the embodiment of thepresent invention.

1. A gaming machine comprising: a plurality of game execution devicesconfigured to execute games; a game controller operable to control gamesto be executed by the game execution devices, and change games to beexecuted by the game execution devices according to an external signal;a relay controller connected with the game controller through a network,operable to transmit/receive information regarding games to/from thegame controller, and set a betting accepting period of each game suchthat, when a betting accepting period of one game among games to beexecuted by the game execution devices is ended, it is in a bettingaccepting period of at least one other game different from the one game;and a plurality of client terminals connected with the relay controller,and configured to enable participation of a player in a selected gameamong games to be executed by the game execution devices and enableacceptance of bets for a game in which the player participates duringthe betting accepting period set by the relay controller, each clientterminal having a display device configured to notify a game in whichthe player is participating.
 2. The gaming machine of claim 1, whereinthe external signal is an input operation signal by a manager, and thegame controller changes games to be executed by the game executiondevices when the input operation signal is inputted.
 3. The gamingmachine of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of client terminalshas a display configured to notify to players those games for which betscan be made among games to be executed by the game execution devices. 4.A gaming machine comprising: a plurality of game execution devicesconfigured to execute games; a game controller operable to control gamesto be executed by the game execution devices, and change games to beexecuted by the game execution devices according to an external signal;a relay controller connected with the game controller through a network,operable to transmit/receive information regarding games to/from thegame controller, and set a betting accepting period of each game suchthat, when a betting accepting period of one game among games to beexecuted by the game execution devices is ended, a betting acceptingperiod of any other game different from the one game is started; and aplurality of client terminals connected with the relay controller, andconfigured to enable participation of a player in a selected game amonggames to be executed by the game execution devices and enable acceptanceof bets for a game in which the player participates during the bettingaccepting period set by the relay controller, each client terminalhaving a display device configured to notify a game in which the playeris participating.
 5. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein the externalsignal is an input operation signal by a manager, and the gamecontroller changes games to be executed by the game execution deviceswhen the input operation signal is inputted.
 6. The gaming machine ofclaim 4, wherein each of the plurality of client terminals has a displayconfigured to notify to players those games for which bets can be madeamong games to be executed by the game execution devices.
 7. A gamingmachine comprising: a plurality of game execution devices configured toexecute games; a game controller operable to control games to beexecuted by the game execution devices, and, when there is a game inwhich no bet has been made for a prescribed number of games, change thegame in which no bet has been made for a prescribed number of games toanother game; a relay controller connected with the game controllerthrough a network, operable to transmit/receive information regardinggames to/from the game controller, and set a betting accepting period ofeach game such that, when a betting accepting period of one game amonggames to be executed by the game execution devices is ended, it is in abetting accepting period of at least one other game different from theone game; and a plurality of client terminals connected with the relaycontroller, and configured to enable participation of a player in aselected game among games to be executed by the game execution devicesand enable acceptance of bets for a game in which the playerparticipates during the betting accepting period set by the relaycontroller, each client terminal having a display device configured tonotify a game in which the player is participating.
 8. The gamingmachine of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of client terminalshas a display configured to notify to players those games for which betscan be made among games to be executed by the game execution devices. 9.The gaming machine of 7, wherein the game controller, when there is agame in which no bet has been made for a prescribed number of gamesconsecutively, changes the game in which no bet has been made for aprescribed number of games consecutively to another game.
 10. A methodfor controlling a gaming machine, the method comprising the steps of:executing respectively different games by a plurality of game executiondevices under a control of a game controller; changing games to beexecuted by the game execution devices to other games, by the gamecontroller upon receiving an external signal; setting a bettingaccepting period of each game such that, when a betting accepting periodof one game among games to be executed by the game execution devices isended, it is in a betting accepting period of at least one other gamedifferent from the one game, by a relay controller connected with thegame controller through a network; enabling participation of a player inany one game among games to be executed by the game execution devices asthe player bets credits during the betting accepting period that is set,by a client terminal connected with the relay controller; and notifyinga game in which the player is participating at the client terminal, by adisplay device.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the external signalis an input operation signal by a manager, and the control methodfurther comprises the step of changing games to be executed by the gameexecution devices to other games, according to the input operationsignal, by the game controller.
 12. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising the step of notifying to players those games for which betscan be made among games to be executed by the game execution devices, bythe client terminal.
 13. A method for controlling a gaming machine, themethod comprising the steps of: executing respectively different gamesby a plurality of game execution devices under a control of a gamecontroller; changing games to be executed by the game execution devicesto other games, by the game controller upon receiving an externalsignal; setting a betting accepting period of each game such that, whena betting accepting period of one game among games to be executed by thegame execution devices is ended, a betting accepting period of any othergame different from the one game is started, by a relay controllerconnected with the game controller through a network; enablingparticipation of a player in any one game among games to be executed bythe game execution devices as the player bets credits during a bettingaccepting period that is set, by a client terminal connected with therelay controller; and notifying a game in which the player isparticipating at the client terminal, by a display device.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the external signal is an input operationsignal by a manager, and the control method further comprises the stepof changing games to be executed by the game execution devices to othergames, according to the input operation signal, by the game controller.15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of notifying toplayers those games for which bets can be made among games to beexecuted by the game execution devices, by the client terminal.
 16. Amethod for controlling a gaming machine, the method comprising the stepsof: executing respectively different games by a plurality of gameexecution devices under a control of a game controller; when there is agame in which no bet has been made for a prescribed number of games,changing the game in which no bet has been made for a prescribed numberof games to another game, by using the game controller; setting abetting accepting period of each game such that, when a bettingaccepting period of one game among games to be executed by the gameexecution devices is ended, it is in a betting accepting period of atleast one other game different from the one game, by a relay controllerconnected with the game controller through a network; enablingparticipation of a player in any one game among games to be executed bythe game execution devices as the player bets credits during a bettingaccepting period that is set, by a client terminal connected with therelay controller; and notifying a game in which the player isparticipating at the client terminal, by a display device.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, further comprising the step of notifying to playersthose games for which bets can be made among games to be executed by thegame execution devices, by the client terminal.
 18. The method of claim16, further comprising the step of, when there is a game in which no bethas been made for a prescribed number of games consecutively, changingthe game in which no bet has been made for a prescribed number of gamesconsecutively to another game, by the game controller.